First ever India-UK Createch summit produces £58m in commerical deals

The India - UK Createch Summit took place in Mumbai today and is the first conference in India dedicated to the new and emerging field.

This summit takes place at an exciting time and explored how the technology and creative industries are converging to produce a new wave of innovation which is leading to the development of new products and businesses.

Virtual and augmented reality, robotics and artificial intelligence are increasingly commonplace, and are redefining how we live.

They affect our experience of entertainment, and are improving all aspects of life, from healthcare to transport.

The Summit was opened by Baroness Rona Fairhead CBE, Minister of State for the UK's Department for International Trade (DIT), and attended by HRH the Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.

It convened around 1,000 delegates from the film, advertising, healthcare, industrial design, music, gaming and immersive technology sectors.

The focus was on exploring how Createch is disrupting industries around the world and to showcase some of the companies leading the development of these technologies globally.

Attendees had the opportunity to hear keynotes from senior figures from some of the world's most innovative companies and organisations.

Professor Dr. Ralf Speth, CEO, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) opened the session 'Createch in Business', speaking about the impact of Createch on JLR and the opportunities it offers for the future of transport.

Jeremy White, Transport Director, Seymour Powell, explored how human-centred design can allow businesses to think ahead.

Mike McGee, Co-founder and CCO of Oscar-winning creative studio, Framestore, discussed how revolutionary technology in film and advertising has brought to life characters like Paddington Bear and sent children on a virtual school trip to Mars.

Other sessions led by the likes of Sir Malcolm Grant, Chairman, National Healthcare Service (NHS) England, and Guy Murphy, Chief Strategy Officer, J. Walter Thompson, addressed how technology can help brands build value in the 21st century.

The grand finale of the 4th TECH Rocketship Awards was also held today, featuring seven of India's brightest tech entrepreneurs and start-ups presenting their business ideas to an expert judging panel.

Competing across seven categories, the winners were announced and presented with a trip to the UK, connecting them with the country's world-leading growth ecosystem of VCs, advisors, customers and support networks to help springboard their businesses internationally.

The Summit also hosted a series of bespoke industry-focused workshops on healthcare, industrial design, music, gaming, film and immersive technology, giving an unprecedented platform to Indian and UK businesses and thought leaders to interact across a diverse range of sectors.